1786 Doubloon Brasher - Lima Style

Coin Details

Description

Dated 1786, this Brasher Doubloon variant adopts a "Lima Style" design inspired by the Spanish colonial gold coins struck at the Lima, Peru mint — the source of much of the gold coinage circulating in the Americas during the 18th century. Cataloged as W-5690 and Breen 978, this extremely rare piece may represent an early die trial or experimental striking by Ephraim Brasher as he developed the designs for his famous gold coinage. The Lima influence is significant because Spanish colonial gold doubloons from the Lima mint were among the most widely recognized and trusted gold coins in the Atlantic trading world, and Brasher's adoption of elements from their design language may have been a deliberate strategy to enhance the acceptability of his own private gold issues. Brasher, a skilled goldsmith and assayer operating in New York, petitioned the New York legislature in 1787 for authority to strike copper coins, but his ambition clearly extended to gold — the doubloons he produced were valued at approximately $15, equivalent to the Spanish gold doubloon. The unique Lima Style design distinguishes this piece from the more familiar 1787-dated Brasher Doubloons with their sunrise-over-mountain obverse, placing it in a separate design lineage that documents Brasher's creative process. This piece belongs to the Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788) series and ranks among the most important items in all of American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Unique Lima Style design.

Cross References

W-5690; Breen 978